The spring course catalog for Rice’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, mailed in mid-December, features a wide variety of offerings reflective of the school’s ties to Houston and the broader community and with the goal of connecting people more deeply to themselves and others around the world.

Courses include Innovative Houston: Local Solutions to Global Challenges; Creativity Up Close: Creative Process and Practice; Understanding Spanish America; and Mindfulness for Health and Well-Being. The school has several dozen other classes in the arts, humanities and sciences, foreign languages and personal and professional development. The catalog opens with a welcome message from the school’s dean, Robert Bruce.

“Education’s power to change lives lies in its multiplicity,” he wrote. “Learning is both a deeply personal pursuit and an experience that can have a profound impact on communities. Fostering community-centered lifelong learning is an intensely local endeavor and one that holds potential for global impact.”

Referencing the goals of engaging Houston and extending Rice’s reach and impact in the university’s Vision for the Second Century, Second Decade (V2C2), Bruce wrote, “In collaboration with Rice faculty, community experts and dozens of partner departments and organizations, we examine issues that matter to Houston and share insights with global relevance.”

Most of the spring courses start in February or March and are held in the school’s state-of-the-art Anderson-Clarke Center. Selected courses are discounted up to 50 percent for Rice students, faculty and staff. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also apply for tuition reimbursement for job-related courses at the Glasscock School. Rice alumni receive a 10 percent discount on all personal and professional development courses except the Midweek Medley course.

To view the catalog online, visit http://bit.ly/GSCS19Spring. Those interested in courses can register online or call 713-348-4803.